Tuesday Treats 108: The Cycle Show

Your once a week dose of retail therapy from Singletrack’s Premier Dealers, stockists and advertisers.

Tuesday Treats gives you a quality serving of independent bike retailing and a chance to win big in this week’s prize draw.

This week, we’re re-visiting The Cycle Show.

Hot off the press, and in mountain biker friendly flavour, we talk to the show organisers at Upper Street Events to bring you all you need to know about this month’s Cycle Show. The event kicks off at the NEC Birmingham between Friday 26th – Sunday 28th September…

What’s in-store for mountain bikers specifically?

Dirt promises to make up a key component of this years return of the Cycle Show. The headline attraction includes ‘The Sam Pilgrim Big Air Invitational’ dirt jumping competition, and we’ve got even more new brands set to show off their 2015 MTB ranges, with the popular outdoor test track and indoor pump track making welcome returns.

It’s great to see the MTB test track back.

Absolutely. We’ve got public riding scheduled for the returning outdoor MTB test track, while DMR are staging indoor pump track sessions and top brands will be showcasing their 2015 bikes, kit and more.

The NEC’s demo track has proved a very popular fixture, allowing visitors an opportunity to try new bikes including Trek’s Remedy 9 and Fuel EX 9 on a 1km woodland singletrack trail.

What brands are showing MTB?

On the stands, 2015 MTB line-ups will be showcased by the likes of Trek, Diamond Back, Marin, Vitus, Whyte, Mondraker, DMR, Transition, KTM, Rocky Mountain, Bianchi, Boardman, Torpardo, Forme, Cube, Rose and Pivot. There is going to be a vibrant choice of mountain bike brands for visitors to see up close.

We all love a bit of dirt jumping…

An event which sat at the heart of the UK MTB scene in the late 1990’s, Sam Pilgrim and the Cycle Show team have worked together over the past six months to bring dirt jumping back to the NEC. With an ever-growing dirt scene in the UK and Europe, that has seen riders like Sam Pilgrim become international stars, the ‘Sam Pilgrim Big Air Invitational’ brings dirt jumping front and centre stage at one of Europe’s largest cycling exhibitions.

It will take place on the Saturday (27th) of the Cycle Show, with an international line up of riders competing on a ‘Big Air’ style set up influenced by city SNB big air events. Power will be put in the hands of the riders to see who takes the overall win on the day with them voting for ‘Riders’ Rider’ with the rest of the prize purse up for grabs in a ‘Cash 4 Tricks’ Jam.

Any related disciplines we need to know about?

As ever there will be plenty for roadies and commuters to feast on and everyone loves a splattering of BMX which returns too this year, with demos from Alex Coleborne, Mark Webb and the Total BMX team on a huge Spine Mini ramp.

Confirmed Big Air Invitational Riders: Sam Pilgrim, Sam Reynolds, Matt Jones, Matt Macduff (Canada), Amir Kabbani (Germany), Eric Walenta (Germany), Sherwy Pasamonte (Spain), Blake Samson, Ray Samson, Daryl Brown, Ray Samson, Chopper, Chris Smith, Steve Geall, Tom Cardy, Charlie Watts and Ryan Nangle. Go here for further rider updates and rider social media pages.

Any special guests?

For the MTBers we’ve secured Keith Bontrager who will be answering your questions on The Stage at 12.45pm on Friday 26th.

Britain’s most successful Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy, will attend with endurance nutrition company Science in Sport (SiS). Hoy, who is an Elite Consultant for SiS, will also attend on the Friday’s (26th) show day, featuring in a live question and answer session with journalist and ITV’s Tour de France reporter Ned Boulting and he’ll also sign autographs on the SiS stand.

What’s the deal?

Adult tickets for The Cycle Show are priced at £13 per person when booked in advance – offering attendees a saving of over £3 per ticket – while children aged 14 and under can attend for just £1 each with an accompanying adult. Concession prices are also available to students and those over 65. Click here for tickets and more information.

Keep up to date with developments leading up to the show on our Facebook and Twitter pages.